Air-spring suspension

Abstract

This invention relates to an air-spring suspension system installed intermediate the carriage frame supported on wheels and the cargo or passenger holding structure supported by the carriage frame in the construction of power driven vehicles. The most preferable embodiment of the air-spring suspension is the air-spring suspension beam comprising a pair of beams assembled in a parallel configuration wherein the flanges of the two beams provide an elongated confined space intermediate the two beams, that houses one or more elastic compressed air containers cushioning the relative movements between the two beams in the lateral direction relative to one another. The air-spring suspension beam may further include means for damping the oscillatory movements between the two beams, which means may include the friction between the flanges of the two beams or the shock absorbers including dashpots.

I claim: 
     
       1. An air-spring beam suspension system including at least one air-spring suspension beam or pad of elongated construction disposed intermediate a carriage frame supported on wheels and a passenger or cargo holding structure supported by said carriage frame, said air-spring suspension beam or pad comprising in combination: (a) a first rigid elongated member including a substantially flat base and flanges extending from the boundary of said substantially flat base in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane including said substantially flat base;   (b) a second rigid elongated member including a substantially flat base disposed adjacent to said first rigid elongated member in a parallel and superimposed relationship, said second rigid elongated member including flanges extending from the boundary of said substantially flat base in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane including said substantially flat base, wherein said flanges of said second rigid elongated member guided by said flanges of said first rigid elongated member in a sliding relationship provides a confined space intermediate said first and second rigid elongated members;   (c) a plurality of elastic containers containing compressed air or gas confined within said confined space intermediate said first and second rigid elongated members, said plurality of elastic containers including means for inflating or deflating said elastic containers;   (d) means for limiting the distance of separation between said first and second rigid elongated members; and   (e) means for damping the oscillatory movements of said first and second rigid elongated members relative to one another.   
     
     
       2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for damping comprises friction means for generating frictional resistance against the relative movements between said first and second rigid elongated members, said friction means disposed intermediate said flanges of said first rigid elongated member and said flanges of said second rigid elongated member. 
     
     
       3. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for damping comprises at least one dashpot connected to said first rigid elongated member at one extremity and to said second rigid elongated member at the other extremity of said dashpot. 
     
     
       4. A plurality of air-spring suspension beams or pads of elongated construction disposed intermediate a vehicle bed frame supported on wheels and a cargo holding structure supported by said vehicle frame wherein said plurality of air-spring suspension beams or pads are installed in series in function with respect to the conventional suspension system installed intermediate wheel assemblies and said vehicle bed frame, each of said plurality of air-spring suspension beams comprising in combination: (a) a first rigid elongated member including a substantially flat base and flanges extending from the boundary of said substantially flat base in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane including said substantially flat base;   (b) a second rigid elongated member including a substantially flat base disposed adjacent to said first rigid elongated member in a parallel and superimposed relationship, said second rigid elongated member including flanges extending from the boundary of said substantially flat base in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane including said substantially flat base, wherein said flanges of said second rigid elongated member guided by said flanges of said first rigid elongated member in a sliding relationship provides a confined space intermediate said first and second rigid elongated members;   (c) a plurality of elastic containers containing compressed air or gas confined within said confined space intermediate said first and second rigid elongated members, said plurality of elastic containers including means for inflating or deflating said elastic containers;   (d) means for limiting the distance of separation between said first and second rigid elongated members; and   (e) means for damping the oscillatory movements of said first and second rigid elongated members relative to one another.   
     
     
       5. The combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said means for damping comprises friction means for generating frictional resistance against the relative movements between said first and second rigid elongated members, said friction means disposed intermediate said flanges of said first rigid elongated member and said flanges of said second rigid elongated member. 
     
     
       6. The combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said means for damping comprises at least one dashpot connected to said first rigid elongated member at one extremity and to said second rigid elongated member at the other extremity of said dashpot. 
     
     
       7. An Air-spring beam of elongated construction comprising in combination: (a) a first rigid elongated member including a substantially flat base and flanges extending from the boundary of said substantially flat base in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane including said substantially flat base;   (b) a second rigid elongated member including a substantially flat base disposed adjacent to said first rigid elongated member in a parallel and superimposed relationship, said second rigid elongated member including flanges extending from the boundary of said substantially flat base in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane including said substantially flat base, wherein said flanges of said second rigid elongated member guided by said flanges of said first rigid elongated member in a sliding relationship provide a confined space intermediate said first and second rigid elongated members;   (c) a plurality of elastic containers containing compressed air or gas confined within said confined space intermediate said first and second rigid elongated members, said plurality of elastic containers including means for inflating or deflating said elastic containers;   (d) means for limiting the distance of separation between said first and second rigid elongated members; and   (e) means for damping the oscillatory movements of said first and second rigid elongated members relative to one another.   (f) means for preventing relative movements between said first and second rigid elongated members in directions parallel to the length of said air-spring suspension beam.   
     
     
       8. The combination as set forth in claim 7 wherein said means for damping comprises friction means for generating frictional resistance against the relative movements between said first and second rigid elongated members, said friction means disposed intermediate said flanges of said first rigid elongated member and said flanges of said second rigid elongated member. 
     
     
       9. The combination as set forth in claim 7 wherein said means for damping comprises at least one dashpot connected to said first rigid elongated member at one extremity and to said second rigid elongated member at the other extremity of said dashpot.